We are more than halfway to our goal!

More than halfway to our goal!   We’ve raised $977.00!!  $944.00 to go.

Students in Room 21 using Chromebooks in the Writing Workshop!

 

Dear Families,

In just a few short weeks we are halfway to our goal!  If we can gather the additional support through our community, we can have a group of chromebooks in the classroom, all day, every day!  Already students are motivated and learning.  This week in their Google classroom, they have worked on an Opinion Writing Essay, compared and contrasted life for Wapanoag children and Pilgrim children.  They have access to the virtual field trips we took to Plimoth Plantation and the Wapanoag homesite.  

If you haven’t made a donation, please consider it.  If you have, thank you so much.

Take a look at my project, share it with anyone you think might be interested in supporting us. This is great for kids!  

The links below will take you directly to the website and my classroom project.

In partnership,

Valerie McKenzie

DonorsChoose.org,

Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects

Art Project this afternoon

Hi all!
I have a gap in my schedule (Mr. Nelson won't be here for a rehearsal) and want to do an art project with the kids -one I've done every year of my career.
We'll start after PE at around 1:45 and go for a good 45 minutes.
It runs better with some extra help.  If you can be here, come on in.
Thanks,
Valerie McKenzie

Field Trip Next Friday

Dear Families,

Oh boy, today went too fast!  I meant to put together a notice about an upcoming field trip.

Next Friday, we'll have a walking field trip to "find Klickitat Street".  This will be our celebration for finishing our Book-based storyline:  Henry Huggins' Neighborhood.  We'll find Beverly Cleary's home and the houses that we think belong to Henry and Beezus and Ramona.  Afterward, we'll have lunch at Grant Park, near the tennis courts where Henry went looking for Night Crawlers.  

We'll leave Friday after our Grandparents/Special Friends Day, around 10:15.  It is a long walk and we'll return to school between 1:00 and 1:30.  I need some parents to bring up the rear, four parents is ideal but, I can manage with three.  If you are available, please let me know.  

Students should dress for the weather (we'll reschedule if it's too rainy) and the long walk.  

Kids really enjoyed reading, writing and creating around the Henry Huggins story.  Now it's time to show them that such a wonderful author lived in a neighborhood just like theirs.  Maybe someday they'll write a story about growing up in Portland, too!

Have a great weekend,

Valerie McKenzie

vmckenzie@pps.net

A Great Way to Start the Morning

Dear Families,

    What a great surprise, this morning,  to see that families had begun to contribute to our class project through Donors Choose.  You are amazing!
     Find my classroom project at:

                  Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects

     Thanks so much for supporting our classroom and students.

                                                                                    All the best,
                                                                                    Valerie McKenzie

Donors Choose -My students need your help!

My students need your help! Hi Friends, I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed. So I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity. I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. Until November 4, any donation you make to my project will be doubled (up to $100). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class. Here's my classroom request: Chromebooks In The Classroom for Writing and STEM Projects To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the promo code SPARK on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through November 4. My students and I greatly appreciate your support. Ms. McKenzie

Re: Carnival

Hello Laurelhurst Families!

We are 4 days away from the Laurelhurst Carnival and we are eliciting one final plea for Volunteers! This is a super fun family event and an institution for our school.  The only way we can keep this event fun, successful and safe is by pulling together as a community and helping out.

On the sign up, each classroom is assigned to an activity within the carnival. We would love to have parents associated with a classroom to sign up for the corresponding carnival activity. Classrooms who have yet to complete their sign up include: Dixon, Heinrich, McAdams, Vigna, Zimmer and Hart.  We also need assistance for security, Teen Soda Lounge and Dunk Tank.

Parents: Sign up using the link below:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4dafa82ba3f94-parent

Students: Sign up using the link below:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4dafa82ba3f94-student

Thank you for considering this request.  We look forward to seeing you.

Shannon Browning

Carnival Volunteer Coordinator

Conferences

October 20, 2015

Dear Families,

Conferences begin tomorrow and I am very excited to share your student’s progress with you.  Conferences for me are a very emotional time.  I spend the weeks ahead thinking about your kids, holding them up and asking some important questions.   I wonder about how they are “fitting in”, are they making friends, are they comfortable with the routines of the classroom?  I have goals for them, academic and social.  I’m figuring out how to help them achieve them.  I want the best for them, just as you do.  I know that I have taught third grade many times but, it is your child’s only year in third grade.  I want it to be memorable, challenging, and ultimately satisfying.  

When we meet we’ll go over a fair amount of data.  We’ll look at reading scores, math scores and what their writing looks like.  I’ll show you the tools we use to reinforce the skills they are acquiring.  But I want to take time to hear your hopes for your student, what you think they need this year.  While I’m sure that we will agree about most things, there may be some we have to figure out together.  Above all, our goals are the same - we both want your student to thrive at Laurelhurst.

One of my former students wrote a poem that began,

Mrs. McKenzie’s really great,

She doesn’t like it when we’re late.

Please be on time for your conference, I want to honor our time together.

Thanks for all you do,

Valerie McKenzie